Finding an Electrician

I have a bit of PTSD from trying to deal with Danes over the phone in English, so it was time to get creative :)

I used Google Translator and worked my way through the online yellow pages, emailing a few electricians a day in English, until one wrote me back. Actually, only one wrote me back, but I only needed one so I won’t take my 90% failure rate personally. My skin is getting thicker everyday!

The days are getting shorter and while I love the concept of “hygge”, trying to live by TV and candlelight was getting old, so I needed to take care of this sooner rather than later. 650 DKK (about $120 US)per hour was a semi-high, but ok rate. But the 810 DKK(about $150 US)they were going to charge for a dimmer switch was ridiculous so one of my coworkers came the rescue by taking me to a hardware store where I was able to get one for a much more reasonable price of 269 DKK (about $50 US).

Anyway, I’m pleased to show you my not so finished living room complete with the crystal chandelier I’ve long dreamed of, and the thrifted velvet sofa!

The pocket doors and woodwork need to be painted, but it’s going to be a long winter, so I’ve got plenty of time. I’d also like to get some curtains and a bookcase, but easier said than done. Someday, I will luck out at the thrift shops, or get hold of a car and make a pilgrimage to IKEA. Until then, I’ll try not to think too much about it.

Related

Comments

Congratulations, Sage! You have tackled yet another sprog related challenge. It is tough enough to deal with an Electrician even when we speak the same language. Smart to handle the dimmer yourself and save some $DKK.

The chandelier and velvet sofa are nice additions to your living room. Do the pocket doors open to the Kitchen?

Maybe you can arrange a firewood delivery by the same method that you found the electrician.

Opie can probably help you paint during the long winter days ahead, especially if he is allowed to lounge on the vintage sofa :)

Your lounge really is beginning to take shape. I love the colour of that sofa, sage green, which is very appropriate! I followed your recipe for falafels yesterday but they fell apart when I fried them, what did I do wrong? The bits that I salvaged tasted fantastic so I do want to try again. Thanks xxx

smilingsurfer: The pocket doors open to my studio, which is where I sew, write, and process photos. It also houses the final 3 stray boxes whose content I’ve yet to find space for. I have a lead on firewood, I think I may be getting the hand of this DK thing afterall :)

Opie has become a lazy boy who only begs for food and bites me when I don’t comply, but he’s cute, so he’s got that going for him!

Fran: Oh no! I’ve never had that issue, but being falafel obsessed, I’ve read a lot about making them. They usually fall apart when the batter (dough?) is too wet or too warm. Canned chickpeas can be a definite culprit, but you can also have issues if you’ve soaked dried chickpeas for too long. Adding a tablespoon or two of flour may help in this case. If you’re pretty sure that’s not the issue, then you might try putting them in the freezer for 10-20 minutes so they’re good and chilled when they hit the oil. If you try again, let me know if either of these things helped :)